Another Win in a 'row
By TMX Archives on 22nd Jul 10
Former champ and local favourite Steve Atkins had to give in to the Professor, Paul Winrow once again as the former and current champions battled it out at round three of the QRA British Quad Cross Country championship which took place near Minehead hosted with ORE events. The two clubs joined forces and a superb three hour event for just under 80 adult Quads entertained not just the competitors but the enthusiastic spectators, including a number of Youth Quad riders who had been in action on the Saturday in the youth event at the same venue.
Pro class leader Winrow made an uncharacteristic, dreadful start and while those in front of him slid across the lush green grass of the first turn Winrow was just getting underway. Atkins on the other hand was flying at the front of his fellow Pro Class riders and looked very determined on home soil to win this round.
Winrow picked his was through the field and by the end of lap one was in third spot behind Paul Hannam who was very much at home in front of his local supporters with Atkins leading.
Landowner and championship campaigner, Ridian Wilford was on Winrow's tail and there isn't a man on the planet that knows the land better, so Winrow was under serious pressure.
All the classes were producing close battles, made more intense with the mix of ORE club championship class riders. The battle in the Expert class was a great example as young Jordan Mitchell led the way with eventual class winner Brendan Retter 20 seconds behind at the end of lap one, a deficit he made up in the second lap to lead to the flag. The father and son battle between Sam and his Dad Antony Barrett was superb, with Dad Antony having to give in to son by the end of the race as the duo came home second and third. Class leader Irishman Paul Harness dropping valuable points and the championship lead after coming home fourth.
Strong sense of Girl Power in the Club class with three of them in the top ten, putting the guys under immense pressure all the time. It was Richard Clark who volunteered to lead the way after a blistering start as most of his classmates span on the first turn making it like a scene from dancing on ice as they struggled with the greasy conditions. Clark was very unfortunate later when struck with machine gremlins and failed to score with a DNF after what looked to be a podium finish if not the win early on. Which left the way clear for Scott Linley to maintain his unbeaten record so far in the Club Class. But he had to keep an eye on the very determined and fast Ami Price-Draper who finished a superb second from Peter Gallagher and Elizabeth Price in fourth.
Jon Morgan won the 4x4 Utility Quad class with a Union Jack flag to chequered flag victory over sparring partner Simon ‘Squire' Lang. Neil Martin who was at the sharp end of the action early on had a disagreement with a tree and was lucky to finish. Simon Webb was delighted with his third spot.
The Rookie class riders are constantly gaining experience and Richard Taylor stormed to a convincing win over Laurence Stopps and Tom Hazzledine.
Winrow was the man on the day, again with Atkins in second and Jason Wildman third all on 16 laps and just three minutes apart. Winrow was clearly enjoying himself and when he took the chequered flag then pulled wheelie the length of the field to the work area with his a massive ear to ear smile.
Next round with support class is Sunday August 8 – www.qrauk.com
results
Pro Class: 1 Paul Winrow, 2 Steve Atkins, 3 Jason Wildman, 4 Chris Cooper, 5 Ridian Willford, 6 David Baldwin.
Expert: 1 Brendan Retter, 2 Samuel Barrett, 3 Antony Barrett, 4 Paul Harkness, 5 Val Bell, 6 Christian Bye.
Club: 1 Scott Linley, 2 Ami Price-Draper, 3 Peter Gallagher, 4 Elizabeth Price, 5 Aaron Pole, 6 Nick Grant.
Rookie: 1 Richard Taylor, 2 Laurence Stopps, 3 Tom Hazzledine.
4x4:1 Jon Morgan, 2 Simon Lang, 3 Simon Webb, 4 Robert Gee, 5 Neil Martin.